Five Residency players called up to Canada’s U-20 camp

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) announced today that they have called up five members of Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency program for a 10-day U-20 national team camp in Sunrise, Florida, starting next Tuesday, December 6.

In addition to the roster announcement, the CSA also confirmed today that former Whitecaps FC player and assistant coach Nick Dasovic will lead Canada on the road to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Residency centre backs Ben McKendry and Daniel Stanese, midfielders Bryce Alderson and Ben Fisk, as well as striker Caleb Clarke have all been named to Dasovic’s 19-player roster which will feature players born 1993 or later. Alderson and Stanese have previously represented Canada at the U-17 level, while Fisk and McKendry have participated in a Canadian U-18 camp. This is Clarke’s first call-up to the Canadian national team program.

Dasovic returns to the Canadian national team program after leading Canada to a third-place finish at the 2008 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament, with the U-23 squad finishing just one win away from earning a spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Dasovic has since served as an assistant coach and head coach with Major League soccer side Toronto FC.

Dasovic is well versed in Canada’s national team program, having made 63 senior appearances for his country between 1992 to 2004. He represented Canada in three cycles of FIFA World Cup qualifying and also represented Canada at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. He then represented Canada in a fourth cycle of FIFA World Cup qualifying as an assistant coach and served as an assistant coach with Canada’s U-20 national team.